Mehta: Todd Bowles still a defensive wizard and more takeaways from Jets' runaway win over Broncos

The Jets’ 34-16 rout over the Broncos on Sunday snapped their three-game losing streak.

Here are five takeaways from a game that Gang Green desperately needed:

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DEFENSIVE WIZARD

Todd Bowles is still one of the best defensive play callers in the game. It’s sometimes easy to forget that this is still the same guy who has been a defensive wizard through the years. Bowles took over lone play-calling duties for the first time in a long time after the team learned that defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers’ illness would keep him away from the team. Bowles took on the play-calling duties along with his typical head coaching responsibilities with aplomb. He dialed up a terrific game-plan to confuse Broncos QB Case Keenum.

“Todd Bowles is known for rushing the passer and doing things to confuse quarterbacks and pass protections,” Keenum said after the game. “There were a few new things.”

Bowles has been a convenient and easy target, but he knows what he’s doing. He’s always known what he’s doing. That’s why he’s the right coach for this team… and always has been.

OFFENSIVE GAME PLAN

Jeremy Bates devised an excellent game plan in the face of criticism from folks who, frankly, don’t understand what they’re watching. The Jets rolled up 512 total yards thanks to a commitment to the run and a young quarterback unafraid to take shots down the field. Bates is a solid play-caller. The notion that he somehow was ove-rmatched was as laughable today as it was for the past few weeks.

Jets' Isaiah Crowell picks up some yards on his way to 219 yards on the ground, a franchise record. (Seth Wenig / AP)

O-LINE PAVES THE WAY

The offensive line was awesome. I was on a Denver radio station an hour before kickoff previewing the game when one of the hosts went on a rant about how terrible Rick Dennison, who spent many years with the Broncos, was as a coach. I respectfully disagreed (because he’s actually a highly respected coach across the league).

Dennison’s group (Offensive line/Run Game Coordinator) was the engine for this offense on Sunday. 323 on the ground yards? Bravo.

Isaiah Crowell responded from his Dude Wipes endorsement deal controversy with a franchise-record 219 rushing yards (on only 15 carries). I thought that Crowell should have been benched for a quarter in Jacksonville for his crude butt-wiping TD celebration, but it made no sense to punish him for an endorsement deal (no matter how tone deaf it was). I’m fairly certainly the Players Association would have stepped in on that one.

There was even a laughable suggestion from fans to bench him against the Broncos. Some folks even called to cut him. I wonder how they feel now.

The offensive line also had solid enough pass protection to give Sam Darnold time to wait on longer developing routes down the field.

TRUST SAM’S PROCESS

Darnold is getting better and better. Oh, sure, he only completed 10 passes, but he sure made them count. (He was also victimized by a couple drops, but I digress). The key Darnold thing to take away from this game is his growing confidence to take deep shots to Robby Anderson, who was too good of a weapon to be collecting dust for the better part of the first month. As Darnold explained, he’s developing a greater comfort level and rhythm with the speedy Anderson. He’s also developing trust. Darnold’s 35-yard touchdown to a tightly covered Anderson was a thing of beauty. A perfect pass right in his arms. Darnold told me recently that his favorite pass had been a completion to Terrelle Pryor when he stood in the pocket and got drilled in Week 2 against Miami. I’m thinking that he might have a new favorite pass now.

PLAYERS-ONLY PAYS OFF

That Friday players-only film session paid off. The Jets defense washed away the memory of their poor performance in Jacksonville with a solid one Sunday. It wasn’t perfect, but they shut down Keenum & Co. for a bulk of the game when it mattered. Leonard Williams (2 sacks, 2 TFLs, 3 QB hits) was an absolute force. Avery Williamson (9 tackles), Mo Claiborne (four pass breakups… and nearly three INTs), Jamal Adams (6 tackles, 1 TFL) and Marcus Maye (8 tackles, ½ sacks, INT, forced fumble, pass breakup) were also terrific. A nice bounce-back performance inspired by Rodgers’ absence and some good ol’ fashioned professional pride.